Center for Global Development presents a book launch and discussion of
Africa's Private Sector: What's Wrong with the Business Environment and What to Do About It
featuring
Vijaya Ramachandran
Senior Fellow, Center for Global Development
With remarks by
The Honorable James A. Harmon
Chairman, Harmon and Company, LLC
and
Ambassador Ombeni Y. Sefue
Embassy of the United Republic of Tanzania
Moderated by
Todd Moss
Senior Fellow, Center for Global Development
Thursday, March 26, 2009
4:30pm—6:00pm
Reception to follow
at
Peter G. Peterson Institute for International Economics
C. Fred Bergsten Conference Center
1750 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC
Why is the private sector yet to take off in much of sub-Saharan Africa? In Africa’s Private Sector, Vijaya Ramachandran and her co-authors identify the biggest obstacles: inadequate infrastructure (especially unreliable electricity and crumbling roads) and burdensome regulations. The authors suggest investing in infrastructure and reforming regulations to lower the cost of doing business, and increasing the access to education for would-be entrepreneurs to help foster the emergence of a broader-based business class that crosses ethnic divides. Join us for a discussion of how foreign donors can help African businesses by supporting better roads and renewable energy systems.
Complimentary copies of Africa’s Private Sector will be provided.